What do you think? Will AA be able to deal with EK knowing that relations between BA and EK are less than stellar and stick closer to OneWorld ties or will AA dance with EK?

Too soon for AA to move on this. The current priorities for AA management are to fend off the US merger effort and finalize the BK emergence plans (including the proposed new services to begin). Then, and only then, will AA give serious thought to a deal with EK -- and it would do so on far stronger terms than it could possibly hope to obtain while inside BK.

I think IAG and the TATL JV may have something to say for this. EK is makes money sending passengers from US destinations to India, and presumably this would be what AA would feed at JFK, DFW, ORD (eventually), and LAX. BA has significant service and the JV partners have invested much into supporting the LHR feed for the India flights. While there is probably lots of traffic to go around, the premium folks choose AA and Oneworld for it's stellar FF programs. LHR is a mess, especially transferring from T3 to T5. If pax could earn OW miles, and AA Advantage miles on EK and get upgraded to EK's premium products with miles - BA would definately loose out of lots of premium connecting passengers.

I'm sure the deal would be great for AA and EK, but like the QF debacle, bad for Oneworld and for CX, BA, and IB, who compete directly with EK.

Gosh, this seems like a partnership made in heaven. AA's extensive domestic network seems like a great tie to EK. With the growth of EK into some of AA's hub markets, seems like a slam dunk to me. As a frequent flier, I have always seen some codesharing or something between the two. I assume this would be a massive expansion of this previous partnership.

Quoting Byrdluvs747 (Reply 7):Would an AA-EK partnership mean the death of any return to India on AA metal?

Common sense would mean the death of any return to India by AA. Simply no money to be made from any of AA's hubs. UA can only make it work because they have EWR which is right in the center of the largest Indian community in the US. Even JFK doesnt have that proximity. AA wont be able to compete with AI's costs out of ORD even after BK.

Quoting mhkansan (Reply 5):I think IAG and the TATL JV may have something to say for this. EK is makes money sending passengers from US destinations to India, and presumably this would be what AA would feed at JFK, DFW, ORD (eventually), and LAX. BA has significant service and the JV partners have invested much into supporting the LHR feed for the India flights. While there is probably lots of traffic to go around, the premium folks choose AA and Oneworld for it's stellar FF programs. LHR is a mess, especially transferring from T3 to T5. If pax could earn OW miles, and AA Advantage miles on EK and get upgraded to EK's premium products with miles - BA would definately loose out of lots of premium connecting passengers.

This is my thought as well. I really want to see this partnership happen, but I wonder if IAG will try to keep AA from doing it. I dont know that BA and EK have quite the toxic relationship that LH/AC and EK have but I dont think they are really good friends either.

However I think EK has much better potential to make money from US to India than BA does simply because of the proximity of DXB to India. Not to mention that every single market EK serves in the US has massive O&D to India. BA serves many markets in the US that dont.

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 9):Gosh, this seems like a partnership made in heaven

Thats my thought too. Im just waiting to see if AA screws this one up.

Quoting s4popo (Reply 3):If this does happen, you can count on EK finally starting MIA service. AA can provide lots of feed to that flight.

I am looking at the EK making AA an offer they cant refuse. They will start MIA service no matter what most likely. Also it helps AA at least be able to market the middle east and India. Otherwise AA might not be as large player.

With Qatar's Entry into oneworld, such a tie up seems utterly useless and unnecessary. For the most part, the Indian SubContinent is in question, if AA is really keen on that then why not do it with a fellow partner. This would allow for QR to add destinations like ORD and MIA so AA can feed in. JFK, DFW are already their.

Quoting sqsfo (Reply 13):With Qatar's Entry into oneworld, such a tie up seems utterly useless and unnecessary. For the most part, the Indian SubContinent is in question, if AA is really keen on that then why not do it with a fellow partner. This would allow for QR to add destinations like ORD and MIA so AA can feed in. JFK, DFW are already their.

QR doesnt fly to DFW, EK does.

Quoting anstar (Reply 12):Is it EK's straegy to partner with QF and AA to try and undermine the benefits for QR joining OW?

OW has the least restrictions on members of the alliances. Members are pretty free to do as they please.

Quoting avek00 (Reply 4):Too soon for AA to move on this. The current priorities for AA management are to fend off the US merger effort and finalize the BK emergence plans (including the proposed new services to begin). Then, and only then, will AA give serious thought to a deal with EK -- and it would do so on far stronger terms than it could possibly hope to obtain while inside BK.

No, a serious thought is being given to a deal now.

As stated below ...

Quoting bobloblaw (Reply 11):I am looking at the EK making AA an offer they cant refuse.

And in addition - Emirates would appear in Miami, Chicago, and increase New York JFK.

Quoting anstar (Reply 12):
Is it EK's straegy to partner with QF and AA to try and undermine the benefits for QR joining OW?

This is my thinking as well. If another Gulf carrier were to join Star or Skyteam, I would expect them to pursue close relations with UA or DL to try to negate the increased feed going to the new member in the Gulf.

As for AA, the only way I don't see them doing this is if it really ticks off BA and they start looking for a way to end their JV. AA has been reluctant on growing their network to other continents (save for ORD-DUS and DFW-ICN), instead relying on codeshares with international carriers. Combine that with AA pulling out of India last year and having no presence in the Middle East, the afore mentioned reason is the only way I can see this not going through.

So lets just assume that AA do a deal with EK and really hack IAG off and the JV is disbanded...........where does that leave AA then...not everyone who wants to fly to Dubai from the states is going to India, there is a lot of passengers heading to Europe as well...........be interesting to see how this plays out

Quoting stlgph (Reply 23):False. A much bigger fleet to funnel passengers, a lot bigger wallet and a willing to open it up, and a much bigger presence in a key target demographic for AA business.

The other thing is AA brings domestic feed onto EK at its hubs as well which currently EK lack. With all of those A380's coming online, that is what EK would be after from AA.

Quoting mhkansan (Reply 5):I'm sure the deal would be great for AA and EK, but like the QF debacle, bad for Oneworld and for CX, BA, and IB, who compete directly with EK.

Debacle? The EK deal will be awesome for QF, won't really effect BA and IB who will still co-operate with QF while will have virtually have no impact on CX who doesn't co-operate anywhere with QF other than a 1,000 seat per week codeshare to Italy. Probably the biggest impact of the EK decision is on AF who will lose all of the feed QF provides into SIN and HKG for their flights to CDG.

I don't see an issue with AA striking a deal with EK. If they can do deals with EY and now QR, why not put some codes on EK and grab what feed they can from them? And, at least on the DXB-US direct routes, it's feed that wouldn't be picked up be BA/IB anyway.

Quoting leftyboarder (Reply 22):
I honestly doubt EK can bring anything to the table for AA that QR can't.

I honestly doubt QR can bring to the table the same benefits EK will pass onto QF...
If AA don't jump at such a proposal and go with QR I personally believe it's a bad move...
In today's aviation, carriers need to explore ventures which favor the airlines best interest and the QF/EK tieup is a perfect example...

EK413

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